Grain product with increased soluble fiber content and associated methods

Abstract

An improved method for hydrolysis of a grain product results in an increase soluble fiber content without producing undesirable levels of by-products associated protein hydrolysis. The method comprises mixing at high shear a mixture with a grain product having dietary fiber, a base and water at a pH from about 10 to about 13. A homogenous mixture is formed that hydrolyzes following heating with respect to the insoluble fiber. As described herein, a grain product can comprise at least about 30% dietary fiber comprising polysaccharides with arabinoxylan linkages, having at least about 8% soluble fiber, a ratio of soluble fiber to insoluble fiber of at least about 0.1 and no more than about 500 ppm total lysinoalanine. Similarly, some food compositions can comprise at least about 15% soluble fiber with polysaccharides having arabinoxylan linkages, from about 35% to about 65% water, a pH from about 10 to about 13.

1 . A method for hydrolysis of a grain product to increase soluble fiber content, the method comprising: 
 mixing at high shear a mixture comprising a grain product with dietary fiber, a base and water at a pH from about 10 to about 13 to form a homogenous mixture that hydrolyzes following heating with respect to the insoluble fiber.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixing is performed in a continuous method.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mixing is performed with an extruder.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the extruder is a twin screw extruder operating at least about 50 revolutions per minutes.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixing is performed in a high shear mixer.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixture comprises wheat bran and the mixture has a dry dietary fiber content of at least about 20%.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixture comprises from about 25% water to about 80% water.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resulting hydrolyzed product has a soluble fiber content of at least about 8%, a ratio of soluble fiber to insoluble fiber of at least about 0.2.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resulting hydrolyzed product has no more than about 500 ppm total lysinoalanine.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resulting hydrolyzed product has no more than about 425 ppm total lysinoalanine.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mixture comprises at least about 0.002% L-cysteine.  
   
   
       12 . A grain product comprising at least about 20% dietary fiber comprising polysaccharides with arabanogalactan linkages, having at least about 8% soluble fiber, a ratio of soluble fiber to total dietary fiber of at least about 0.08 and no more than about 500 ppm total lysinoalanine.  
   
   
       13 . The grain product of  claim 12  wherein there is no more than about 425 ppm total lysinoalanine.  
   
   
       14 . The grain product of  claim 12  wherein there is no more than about 3 ppm free lysinoalanine.  
   
   
       15 . The grain product of  claim 12  having at least about 10% soluble fiber.  
   
   
       16 . The grain product of  claim 12  having a ratio of soluble fiber to dietary fiber of at least about 1:10.  
   
   
       17 . The grain product of  claim 12  having at least about 30% dietary fiber.  
   
   
       18 . A food composition comprising at least about 20% soluble fiber with polysaccharides having arabanogalactan linkages, from about 35% to about 65% water, a pH from about 10 to about 13.  
   
   
       19 . The food composition of  claim 18  wherein there is no more than about 500 ppm total lysinoalanine.  
   
   
       20 . The food composition of  claim 18  wherein thee is no more than about 425 ppm total lysinoalanine.